About us

What is Carols by Candlelight?

Carols by Candlelight is held each year on December 24 at Melbourne’s Sidney Myer Music Bowl and is the largest annual fundraiser for Vision Australia's children's services. 

Funding specialist education and support services for kids and their families, this much-loved event empowers children with low vision to unlock their potential and share their magic with the world. 

As the oldest and most prominent Christmas entertainment event in Australia, Vision Australia’s Carols by Candlelight attracts crowds of ~10,000 people every year as families and friends gather to enjoy performances of their favourite festive songs and celebrate the season.  

Carols by Candlelight is also enjoyed by millions more at home across the country. A live broadcast on the Nine Network is the top-watched program on Christmas Eve. The televised program has been twice nominated at the Logie Awards for Best Entertainment Program. 

Uncover the history of Carols by Candlelight

What happens at Carols by Candlelight

Every Christmas Eve, Melbourne’s Sidney Myer Music Bowl transforms into a place of music, magic and wonder. As the sun sets, battery-powered candles (safe for young hands!) light up the night sky as a star-studded lineup of musicians, actors, comedians, children's entertainers and more dazzle crowds with their renditions of beloved Christmas carols. 

Tickets are also available for the Carols by Candlelight rehearsal night, which takes place each year on the evening of December 23. 

Read the event FAQs

Who is Vision Australia?

Vision Australia is the leading national provider of blindness and low vision services. We work with Australians of all ages who are blind or have low vision, supporting them to live a life without limits.

Carols by Candlelight supports Vision Australia by raising awareness and much-needed funding for specialist children's programs and services. Through early intervention and ongoing support, these vital services support the development and education of all young people who are blind or have low vision, from the moment they receive a vision loss diagnosis.

This gives kids a strong foundation for a lifetime of independence, helping them to discover and achieve their goals. It also ensures that families never feel alone, with support navigating life when their child has been diagnosed with a vision condition.

Your generous support of Carols by Candlelight means that families can start receiving support and early intervention without delay, while connecting with others with lived experience.

The impact of donations